Evolution defines the spirit of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. In fact, evolution is what allows this Tulsa, Oklahoma institution to thrive. Greater than the sum of its parts, JFJO is hitting new peaks in a historic 15-year career. Founding pianist Brian Haas and drummer Josh Raymer made the decision at the outset of 2009 to expand what was one of the fiercest modern jazz trios in recent memory to a quartet by adding lap steel guitarist Chris Combs and upright bassist Matt Hayes. The new line-up quickly re-emerged with a fresh energy and an invigorated sound, touring hard for the first half of the year. In May, JFJO entered the studio to document their rebirth at 58NS Studios in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The sessions are now set for release September 1 as an EP entitled One Day In Brooklyn on the quartet's own Kinnara Records (distributed through The Royal Potato Family).

Press Release :
Evolution defines the spirit of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. In fact, evolution is what allows this Tulsa, Oklahoma institution to thrive. Greater than the sum of its parts, JFJO is hitting new peaks in a historic 15-year career. Founding pianist Brian Haas and drummer Josh Raymer made the decision at the outset of 2009 to expand what was one of the fiercest modern jazz trios in recent memory to a quartet by adding lap steel guitarist Chris Combs and upright bassist Matt Hayes. The new line-up quickly re-emerged with a fresh energy and an invigorated sound, touring hard for the first half of the year. In May, JFJO entered the studio to document their rebirth at 58NS Studios in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The sessions are now set for release September 1 as an EP entitled 'One Day In Brooklyn' on the quartet's own Kinnara Records (distributed through The Royal Potato Family).

Once described by Signal To Noise as having "a breadth and vision nearly untouched in modern jazz except by the likes of Wayne Shorter and Bill Frisell," JFJO with the addition of Combs on lap steel and Hayes on acoustic bass has perhaps invented its own new sub-genre: Red Dirt Jazz, equal parts earthy and nimble, pastoral and sweeping, elegant and rollicking. The quartet taps into their birthright, drawing upon "The Tulsa Sound" of hometown heroes like JJ Cale, Bob Wills and Leon Russell, growing these roots into a jazz foundation that's built firmly upon the influence of Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk among others.

Info from JFJO's MySpace page :
As we write this we are just now starting to come down from our incredible set at this year's Wakarusa Music Festival. Click Here for some great photos of that show. Thanks for everyone who came out and made the show such a special event. Now it's rehearsal and tour prep until Friday, when we kick off the June tour with a two night return to Jardine's in Kansas City. Get your tickets early, last Jardine's show was Sold Out! Then it's off to the West Coast for 3 nights in the SF Bay Area, a return to Arcata, and then 3 dates in Colorado on our way back to Tulsa. This is going to be a blast!

We just wrapped up the incredible new EP entitled 'One Day in Brooklyn' which was recorded live at 58N6 in Brooklyn in July. The EP is set to be released on September 1st and marks the debut of the new quartet lineup in a studio setting. We can't wait for you to hear these 35 minutes of total JFJO bliss. In addition to the EP being the first album to showcase the quartet, it is also the first release on our new record label Kinnara Records.

Kinnara is Sanskrit for "Heavenly Music". In Buddhist and Hindu mythology, a Kinnara is a paradigmatic lover, a celestial musician, half-human and half-horse or half-bird. We are very excited to have partnered with Royal Potato Family for exclusive distribution through MRI/RED and can't wait for all that the future holds for Kinnara Records . Below is a full track listing for the new EP.

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We can't wait for you to hear this album. This new album draws upon "The Tulsa Sound" born of our hometown heroes like JJ Cale and Leon Russell while staying true to the perpetually evolving Jacob Fred you've come to know and love. File this one under 'Red Dirt Jazz.

All of us are very pleased to announce the winner of the 'Tetherball Triumph' ReMiX Contest. (Drum roll please...) It was hard to pick just one remix as we got so many great submissions that we could tell you worked very hard on. In the end though, one particular mix stuck out to us as really having it going on. Congratulations go out to Derek VanScoten (DVS) and his mix entitled 'DVS Tetherball Dance Sonata Remix'. We'll see you soon at the bSide in Boulder, Derek!

In the coming weeks we will be re-releasing the classic JFJO recording ' All is One - Live in New York City' for purchase both digitally and as CD through JFJO.COM. More re-releases are in the works and coming soon. Also keep your eyes and ears pealed for new material from the forthcoming 'One Day in Brooklyn' EP to start appearing soon! For now Click Here and check out these shots by our good friend Greg Aiello that were taken while we were recording.

See you on the road,

Love,

-JFJO

Reviews :
"One Day In Brooklyn, the group's new EP, documents a two-pronged shift: toward countrified timbres and post-bop exposition." - New York Times

"Born in Tulsa and raised up on the road, this adventurous piano trio plus lap steel guitar get alternately scrappy and pastoral on their new EP, One Day in Brooklyn." - Village Voice

"On One Day in Brooklyn you'll hear how creative and adventurous Tulsans, lap steel and all, are redirecting the future of jazz." - Kansas City Star

"They do Monk (a gorgeous "Four in One"), Abdullah Ibrahim, Roland Kirk (a crazier "Black & Crazy Blues" that weaves and darts and cooks), and some Beatles. Their own "Country Girl" is just lovely, a little off the track, languid here, hurried there....Recommended." - LA Weekly

"The Tulsa, Okla., combo is as ambitious as ever, playing improvisation-laced music that's equally heady and earthy, a feast for the ears and fuel for the feet." - San Francisco Chronicle

"The Tulsa, OK-based Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey further cements its status as one of the most forward-thinking units in jazz with its new EP, One Day in Brooklyn." - Popmatters

"The long notes of Combs' sliding lap steel guitar mix with the emotion that Haas can draw from the deepest corners of his piano, while likely the best rhythm section the Fred has ever unleashed in Raymer and Hayes give a text-book jazz lesson in keeping the parading jam on this universe." - Honest Tune

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